OAKLAND — Two people who worked in the food distribution and device distribution programs within the Oakland Unified School District have tested positive for novel coronavirus, the school district said.

The diagnoses come five weeks into the school closures within the district created by the statewide stay-at-home order that runs through at least May 3. Gov. Gavin Newsom already has announced that schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, but districts throughout the Bay Area have kept distribution sites open for families in need.

In both instances, the two worked at distribution events while feeling fine. Within days of their last visits to a school, each developed symptoms.

The district said they were then given priority COVID-19 testing, and both proved to be positive. They did not say at which site or sites the two worked and did not specify whether they were employees or volunteers.

“Fortunately, all of our distribution events have extensive health and safety protocols in place to mitigate such an incident and protect everyone involved,” district spokesman John Sasaki said in a statement.

According to Sasaki, those protocols include having the custodial staff deep clean any site potentially affected by a case of COVID-19. He also said physical distancing guidelines and the use of gloves and masks all were used during the event, and that the area where the events took place was cleaned thoroughly. Those sites are being used again, he said, adding that despite the precautions that OUSD chools have taken during the pandemic, “this development was not unexpected.”

“Like grocey store workers and first responders, our nutrition services staff and volunteers are front-line workers whose jobs are critical to the students and families of Oakland,” Sasaki said. “We are thankful for the support of the city of Oakland, which gives our essential workers and volunteers who have been at the sites priority access to COVID-19 testing in case of potential exposure.”

According to the district, its Internal Health and Safety Team has been regularly visiting the district’s 12 distribution sites to observe and provide feedback for improvement. Food inspectors also have visited the sites regularly during the pandemic.

Jobs with state and city governments are usually a source of stability in the U.S. economy, but the financial devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic has forced cuts that will reduce public services — from schools to trash pickup.